It seems surprising that a player with five Grand Slam titles and 125 weeks as world No. 1 could fly under the radar. But at Wimbledon, where she has reached only one quarter-final and continues to develop her grass-court skills, Iga Swiatek often moves through the tournament with little attention. An early exit is quickly forgotten; a deep run becomes a pleasant surprise, showing her progress.
On Thursday, the Polish player, seeded eighth after a ranking drop earlier this year, overcame a shaky end to the first set to defeat American Caty McNally 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, advancing to the third round. McNally, ranked 208th and competing with a protected ranking after elbow surgery, disrupted Swiatek early, using smart net play to rally from 4-1 down and take the first set. However, Swiatek swiftly regained control, dominating the next two sets for a confidence-boosting win.
After a slow start on clay, Swiatek regained form at Roland Garros, where she has triumphed four times. A semi-final loss to Aryna Sabalenka stung, but she rebounded by reaching her first grass-court final in Bad Homburg. She is only the third woman this century—after Amélie Mauresmo and Serena Williams—to reach at least the third round in 22 or more Grand Slam events. Against McNally, she stayed composed after dropping the first set and ultimately cruised to victory.
"I started well, so I knew my game was there," Swiatek said. "I just needed to be more precise and aggressive. I’m glad I adjusted."
Grass remains a surface where Swiatek is refining her skills. While her volleys are strong, her transition forward is sometimes hesitant, occasionally stepping back instead of attacking. However, when her serve is on—as it mostly was against McNally—she remains a formidable opponent.
The two players share history, having won the 2018 junior doubles title at Roland Garros. Swiatek also claimed the junior Wimbledon crown that year but lost to McNally in the Paris singles semi-finals—a defeat she called "one of the toughest in my junior career." They shared a warm embrace at the net, with Swiatek expressing happiness at her rival’s return. "She has the ability to succeed," Swiatek said.
Next, Swiatek faces Danielle Collins, the American who defeated her on clay in Rome. A win could set up a clash with 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, who dominated Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1.
Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova battled past Caroline Dolehide 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, securing a match against 10th seed Emma Navarro.
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